Preparing Your Vehicle for Winter

In addition to scheduled maintenance, here are some tips to winterize your car:

• Test your battery; battery power drops as the temperature drops
• Make sure the cooling system is in good working order and can handle severe temperatures
• Have proper winter tires with a deeper, more flexible tread put on your car
• If using all-season tires, check the tread on your tires and replace if less than 2/32 of an inch
• Check the tire pressure; tire pressure drops as the temperature drops
• Check your wiper blades and replace if needed
• Add wiper fluid rated for -30 degrees
• Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze

Keep an Emergency Preparedness Kit in Your Vehicle

Every vehicle should have an emergency supply kit located in the trunk. Kits should be checked every six months, and expired items should be replaced to keep it up to date. Vehicle emergency supply kits should include:

• A properly inflated spare tire, wheel wrench and tripod jack
• Jumper cables
• Tool kit and/or a multipurpose utility tool
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Reflective triangles and brightly coloured cloth to make your vehicle more visible
• Compass
• First aid kit with gauze, tape, bandages, antibiotic ointment, aspirin, a blanket, non-latex gloves, scissors, hydrocortisone, thermometer, tweezers and instant cold compress
• Nonperishable, high-energy foods, such as unsalted nuts, dried fruits and hard candy
• Drinking water
• Reflective vest in case you need to walk to get help
• Car charger for your cell phone
• Fire extinguisher
• Duct tape
• Rain poncho
• Additional items for cold weather include a snow brush, shovel, windshield washer fluid, warm clothing, cat litter for traction and blankets

It’s also a good idea to keep family and emergency phone numbers, including your auto insurance provider and a towing company, in your phone.

Before You Start Out

If you absolutely must travel during severe conditions, take these extra precautions to avoid as much risk as possible:

• Clean your car’s external camera lenses and side-view mirrors so you’ll be able to see what’s around you
• Remove dirt, ice and snow from sensors to allow the assistive-driving features like automatic emergency braking to work
• In frigid weather, you may want to warm up the car before you drive it
• To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, never leave a vehicle running in your garage – even with the garage door up
• If the forecast looks iffy, wait out the storm if possible; if you must travel, share your travel plans and route with someone before you leave

Many drivers roll their eyes at lists like these because they’ve yet to need anything on these lists. Speaking with anyone who has found themselves in deep trouble during a winter drive gone wrong will tell you that everything is fine until it isn’t. And counting on being lucky is just plain reckless. When things go wrong, you need to be prepared for almost anything. Being prepared and cautious can mean the difference between safely getting to your destination and being stranded or involved in a serious wreck. Those scenarios are dangerous on a beautiful summer day, but adding severe winter conditions to the mix can quickly make them deadly.

If you’d like help in making sure your vehicle is properly prepared for severe winter driving, click the SERVICE REQUEST Button below to schedule a thorough winter inspection of your vehicle.